CORONATION Street’s most notorious villain, serial killer Richard Hillman, is returning to the cobbles

— as a ghost.

Bosses have secretly brought back actor Brian Capron to reprise the role for screen wife Gail Platt’s

exit — 21 years after his demise.

It is a nod to the soap’s terrifying storyline when he tried to kill Gail, played by Helen Worth, and her children Sarah (Tina O’Brien) and David (Jack P Shepherd).

He kidnapped them, along with Sarah’s infant daughter, in a car and drove it into a canal — but they survived while he drowned.

A source said: “It’s a huge coup — and the first time a character has ever returned as an apparition.

“The horrific scenes were massive at the time and Gail’s bad judgment in marrying ex Richard ended up being one of her biggest storylines, along with his reign of terror in Weatherfield.

“Of course, Richard perished but he is back from the dead and there will be scenes of dialogue between him and Gail. She is clearly still haunted by him.”

His return comes as actress Helen, 73, bows out of Corrie after 50 years.

Her character’s two years with killer Hillman were among her most tumultuous and the chilling finale in 2003 was seen by nearly 16 million viewers.

Helen had to learn to swim underwater to film the canal scenes in a giant tank.

Her exit storylines had to be rewritten when Sean Wilson, who played second husband Martin Platt, was axed over an unfounded sex assault claim.

Sean told The Sun on Sunday last week: “My reputation was ruined in just eight minutes — my whole world blown apart.”